Analysis How long can Iran's economy withstand Trump's naval blockade? Iranian authorities are denouncing US seizures of the country's oil tankers as piracy, but mounting disruptions to maritime trade are exposing economic fragility beneath Tehran's claims of control and resilience. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Why UAE's decision to leave OPEC is major shift for cartel The UAE accounts for 12% of OPEC's output, but tensions had been simmering over intragroup rivalries and the country wanting to export more oil. United Arab Emirates
Analysis Despite Trump pressure to limit Israel's Lebanon attacks, Aoun-Netanyahu meeting still unlikely As President Donald Trump pressures Israel to limit its strikes in Lebanon, Hezbollah is taking advantage of the situation. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Exclusive Iran reveals names of 5 citizens sought in US prisoner deal Washington and Tehran are on the verge of a deal that would see the exchange of five Americans for five Iranians, most of whom were accused or convicted of sanctions violations. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Iran's thaw with regional rivals threatened by UAE, Kuwait disputes The Islamic Republic's recent reconciliation efforts with its Arab rivals appeared to be on a bumpy road over disputes arising from the ownership of three Gulf islands and shares from the Durra gas field. Iran
How significant is latest US seizure of illicit Iranian oil shipment? The US government said entities affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had sought to smuggle the oil to China. Iran
Shipping company in Greece fined $2.4B for breaching Iran sanctions In an agreement with the US, the illegal oil export was kept secret for almost five months amid fears of retaliation from Tehran. Iran
Saudi Arabia, Iran exchange ambassadors as thaw continues The exchange of ambassadors between Saudi Arabia and Iran is the first since 2016 and follows the resumption of relations between the two countries in March. Iran
Why is Iran boasting upper hand in intelligence war against Israel? Iran has recently been projecting with growing confidence the image of being on the winning side in the continuing intelligence war that it has been waging against Israel for years. Iran
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran give BRICS economic boost, but won’t rival US leadership Tangible economic benefits may be some distance away, experts say, but the symbolic benefit is joining an alliance separate from, or opposed to, Western interests. Iran
US welcomes conviction of Iranian, 4 Iraqis for killing American citizen Stephen Troell, an aid worker in Baghdad, was killed in November when gunmen opened fire on his car. Iraq
Iran's oil production bounces back as exports to China rise despite sanctions Iran's oil industry was hurt by the reimposition of US sanctions in 2018, but has largely recovered since then, in part due to increased exports to China. Iran
Iran claims to foil Israeli plot against its missile operations The announcement follows Iranian officials saying they had dismantled “Zionist-linked” cells across the country and amid an escalating proxy war between Iran and Israel. Iran
Iran claims to dismantle Israeli-linked ‘Zionist’ cells across the country The announcement follows another attack on a Shiite shrine in the country, as well as renewed Iranian threats towards Iranian Kurdish groups in Iraq. Iran
Raisi says revival of nuclear deal not Iran's priority Talks to restore the 2015 accord have been in a state of impasse for 18 months, as both Iran and the United States appear to be increasingly reluctant for a breakthrough. Iran
